Does anyone have a cleaner or domestic help?

Lady_K

Are people who get attendance allowance able to claim this? My stepmum is 78 and gets attendance allowance but she can't do her own cleaning or gardening and has to pay someone to do it but she thought that her attendance allowance was for that, should she apply?

She has had the occupational health to asses her a few years ago and they provided her with various equipment around the house but she really could do with another assesment because she has got worse

sheeps68

I am claiming working tax credit & DLA and have a cleaner. I pay her £15 for 2 hours once a fortnight. Would love to pay more & have her more often but I simply cant. I found her by asking receptionist at health centre. I struck lucky, her daughter took on role, she's flexible and helps me out when I get in a crisis. Personal reputation is best guide so ask around friends of friends etc. Also dont feel bad about getting help you are using your DLA to do jobs you cannot do!

Penny-Pincher!!

I am in Kent and have a cleaning company weekly.

Most councils are now cutting DP's and only offering help if you are substantial or critical needy. My hrs have been cut (which I am arguing atm) and I am counted as critical. It would be worth asking for an assessment though.

I have tried gumtree and our local paper for private help and I have had many problems in the past. At present I use a company which are expensive but I have used her for nearly 2 years and have had minimum problems. She is very proffesional and I am very happy with her standard and I am very fussy!

I have multiple health problems and someone cleaning my house is one less thing that my OH (FT carer) has to worry about.

PM me if you need any help.

PP
xx

4pudding

We have a cleaner through a recommendation. We had a few with an agency, but I'd avoid them if at all possible. The agencies often take half the fee or more leaving the cleaner with the minimum wage. It really pi55ed me off that the agency took so much when the cleaner did all the hard work. It's also harder to develop a good relationship with the cleaner as you might not always have the same person.

We have a lovely cleaner now, we pay £9 per hour, but we're in Greater London, so I think that is definitely fair.

I usually get her to come in when we're on holiday and just do an hour or two rather than the usual four, but still pay her for four. I think she should get holiday pay too, and it's good to know the house is safe whilst we are away.

purplegirluk1

Thank you all for your advice, it has been very helpful. I think I am going to go with a small company run by one lady who employs two other ladies. They are local and I have spoken to her today, she was very nice. It is £11 an hour which is more than others have suggested but that does cover all cleaning products, clothes, mops etc. She thinks they will be able to clean the whole flat in two hours.

I have submitted an application to my council for direct payments, it never hurts to try. If not my DLA will cover it, we will just have to tighten up on other things.

suep

I have my DIL round weekly to do the cleaning, the only problems I have with that are that she's forever changing the day and time, a few time which can get annoying. Also she is a bit OTT with tidying up which I dont want her to do, she puts things away and moves things around so we cant find them, now Ive started hiding things before she comes round so I know where they are :rotfl: shes a lovely girl though and very sensitive so I dont like to say anything.

krisskross

do you get DLA or Attendance Allowance as well as Direct Payments?

Babshubbie

As I understand it, Direct Payment is a system of giving money directly to an individual whom the Council has assessed for need of service. Instead of providing the service they give cash for you to find your own provider. Thus the Council would means test at the assessment.

Others who receive this can correct me if I am wrong.

Penny-Pincher!!

krisskross wrote: »

do you get DLA or Attendance Allowance as well as Direct Payments?

Direct Payments are offered instead of direct help from the council. You have to be assessed as needing help first, then if you qualify, you can ask the care to be paid through DP's. Any income will be taken into account and not everyone will be offered help unless they are in real need. Our council are only helping substantial or critical needy.

The domestic hrs are being cut through all the councils and hardly anyone will receive them by the end of 2009. My DP co-ordinator was explaining it all to me a couple of weeks ago.

HTH

PP
xx

krisskross

Babshubbie wrote: »

As I understand it, Direct Payment is a system of giving money directly to an individual whom the Council has assessed for need of service. Instead of providing the service they give cash for you to find your own provider. Thus the Council would means test at the assessment.

Others who receive this can correct me if I am wrong.

I actually thought that DLA or AA was paid so you can get the help you need. I know someone who uses her AA to pay someone to do the things she no longer can.